Greenland’s Ice Melt Accelerates: 610 Gigatons Lost in One Summer

Recent research from the University of Barcelona reveals alarming rates of ice melt in Greenland, with 610 gigatons lost in the summer of 2012 alone, equivalent to 244 million Olympic swimming pools, SciTech Daily revealed yesterday.

The study, published in the Journal of Climate, indicates that extreme melting episodes have nearly doubled since the mid-20th century. On average, Greenland has lost about 300 gigatons of ice annually between 1980 and 2010, with 40% of recent melting events classified as extreme.

This phenomenon is linked to global warming, with the Arctic warming at four times the global average. The researchers warn that these changes threaten sea levels and could disrupt weather patterns in Europe, highlighting the urgent need for reduced greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.